Miracle Drug: Aspirin - the Cancer Cure?

Could the cure for one of the most feared diseases of all - cancer - be right there in our local drug store for sale at less than one penny per dose? That's what a new report says. An aspirin a day could cut the risk of death from cancer by as much as a whopping twenty-one percent. The benefits of aspirin last for five years after cancer treatment and then the benefits appear to increase with time, lasting for up to twenty years in some cases. This news has impressed many who have long studied the advantages of an aspirin regimen, but now a new study released this week shows that just one low-dose pill a day, containing 75mg of the drug, cuts the risk of developing a long list of common cancers including those affecting the stomach and bowel, the esophagus, pancreas, lungs, prostate, bladder and kidneys.

Heart Attack and Stroke

We have known for many years that aspirin keeps blood from clotting, which reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. And aspirin has been found to actually reduce the severity of a heart attack and stroke if taken during the attack. How does it do it? Aspirin prevents platelets in the blood from joining together and forming clusters or clots. Blood clots are bad because they can reduce or completely cut off blood flow to vital organs, including the heart and the brain. Anytime the blood flow is interrupted, a person can be at risk for heart attack or stroke. Aspirin cuts this risk by as much as seventeen percent.

Other Benefits of an Aspirin Regimen

The benefits of aspirin reach far beyond the cardiovascular system. There is evidence showing that aspirin may either slow the progression or even prevent dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Side Effects of an Aspirin Regimen

Not all the news about aspirin is good. There are serious side effects of taking aspirin. It should never be given to children and teenagers because of the risk of Reyes' Syndrome, a very serious disease. Although taking aspirin leads to a wealth of potential health benefits for adults, people should realize that even a baby aspirin is not free of dangerous side effects," says A. Mark Fendrick, M.D., an internist at the University of Michigan Health System. Reyes' Syndrome leads to brain swelling and fatty deposits in the liver, which can ultimately lead to permanent brain damage or even death.

Studies have shown that in some cases, the benefits of taking aspirin for cardiac preventative measures do not outweigh the negatives. For example, an aspirin regimen can lead to serious internal bleeding. Many people who have no history of cardiac disease take a daily aspirin. It should be recognized that although there have been numerous reports that have been released lately touting the benefits of aspirin there are also complications and risks of adhering to an aspirin regimen such as bleeding in the stomach and intestines, and poses risks in groups like the elderly who are prone to falls. "Even low-dose aspirin can substantially increase the risk of serious gastrointestinal bleeding," warned Eric Jacobs, a cancer society official, in a statement. Patients should not try to self-medicate in the hopes of lowering their risk of dying from cancer. It is recommended that anyone who is considering starting an aspirin regimen consult their physician before hand.

Cancer Diagnosis? Tips for Coping

You had a biopsy or a physical examination by a oncologist. You received "the" phone call. At first, the news of a cancer diagnosis may seem surreal. The moment you hear those words...you know that your life has changed forever. How could this happen? Many cancer patients report that they are completely shocked of their cancer diagnosis. Many report that they are surprised because, prior to their diagnosis, they lived healthy lives. They did not smoke or drink excessively. So, the cancer diagnosis can cause feelings of disbelief, extreme anxiety, fear, and an overwhelming feeling of helplessness.

Anyone that has lived through it can attest to the fact that a support group is one of the most important sources of strength while going through cancer treatment. The American Cancer Society has dedicated an entire section of their web site to helping cancer patient's find support.

Support From Others in Similar Situations

Support groups can increase the quality of life for people coping with cancer by offering information and help to overcome feelings of isolation, loneliness, and helplessness that can result from a cancer diagnosis. Indeed, research by the American Cancer Society has shown that people who are coping with cancer are more positive and able to handle their disease when they receive support from others. It has also been found that by receiving help and support from others who were in the same situation or faced the same cancer diagnosis, patients have seen a reduction in fear, fatigue, anxiety, and confusion. After educational and supportive groups intervene in a cancer patient's mental well being, the result is an increase in survival and overall diagnosis.

Get the Facts About a Cancer Diagnosis

After a cancer diagnosis, a patient may feel like they don't know where to turn. These tips may help.

Try to obtain as much basic, useful information as possible about the cancer diagnosis. Write everything down or document it in a computer. Any person that has experienced cancer treatment can tell you....the visits to the doctor can cause fear making it more difficult to "hear" what the doctors are saying. Write down questions and concerns before the appointment and bring them to the appointment. Consider bringing a family member or friend to doctor appointments. Rely and accept help from the support team.

For many patients, the news of a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Anyone that has been diagnosed with cancer knows that understanding what to expect and knowing how to proceed can help make this stressful time a little easier.

Questions to Consider Asking:

• What kind of cancer do I have?
• Where is the cancer?
• Has it spread?
• Can my cancer be treated?
• What are the treatment options?
• What are the pros and cons of each treatment option?
• What are the side effects of each treatment option?
• What are my chances of survival after each treatment option?
• What can I expect during treatment?
• When should I call the doctor or visit an emergency room?
• What can I do to prevent my cancer from recurring?
• Is my cancer genetic and if so, how likely are my children or other family members to get cancer?

Love Helps Defeat Cancer

Recently, Oscar winner Michael Douglas was diagnosed with throat cancer. After completing his treatment, Michael Douglas stated that "love" helped him to defeat cancer. He went on to say that without the love and support of his family, he would not have done as well. Douglas has been resting in his luxury apartment overlooking Central Park after three rounds of chemotherapy and seven weeks of radiation.

A True Story of Throat Cancer

David Briles has spent the last several years trying to convince people to give up tobacco. He has lectured, traveled and spoken to as many people as he could to try and convince people that tobacco is harmful. See, David was 18 years old when he smoked his first cigarette. He bowed to peer pressure and, against his better judgment, he started smoking cigarettes to try and get attention. This is not uncommon. Many smokers report that they tried their first cigarette as a teen to get attention or to look "cool". Then, like so many smokers, they became addicted and so begins the story of tobacco addiction. It can take years, and in David's case, decades to kick the addiction to tobacco. David's story is very convincing because David developed throat cancer and part of his treatment plan was surgery to have his voice box removed. After this type of surgery, only 10 percent of patients ever talk again. The other 90 percent have to talk through a sound box. In David's case, it took him three years to learn how to speak again through a hole in his throat.

"One cigarette led to the second to the third. The addiction kicked in and I was hooked for the next 22 years," David said.

"Tobacco is only one ingredient -- one ingredient of 600," David said.

He said he wants tobacco users to stop and think, "Do I want to take the chance of having that happen to me?"

"I like to take the necklace off for any talk that I do because this gives everybody the chance to see for themselves," he said, displaying the prominent hole in his throat.

Tongue Cancer - a Patient's Story

Lisa got what she thought was a very bad cold. She missed work and stayed in bed for over a week. During that week, she noticed some pain in her tongue. Shortly afterwards, she developed sores in her throat, and within a few weeks, Lisa was convinced she had a strep infection. Lisa went to the local walk in clinic, (the "doc in a box") and was given some cough medicine and told to go home and rest. Looking back, Lisa recalls thinking about this doctor, a general practitioner MD, and what he misdiagnosed. Would the treatment have been any easier if he had caught her cancer earlier? How could this doctor have missed something so noticeable on her tongue? While Lisa had not actually been able to see anything unusual at the site of the pain on her tongue, she did have white sores all over her mouth. One would think that the white sores would have aroused suspicions by the general practitioner.

Lisa's tongue continued to hurt, and one day several weeks later while she was driving her car, she looked in the mirror, moved her tongue side-to-side trying to see anything that would cause the pain that she was experiencing. Lisa was shocked to see a big, white looking growth on her tongue. She recalls thinking that it was big enough for her to see from some distance away in the rear view mirror. Since it hadn't gone away, Lisa went back to the same Walk In Clinic, this time seeing a different doctor, and she told him that she had been feeling generally lousy and then showed him this "thing" on her tongue. He said it was nothing, gave her some antibiotics, and Lisa was on her way again, convinced that she was crazy and it would go away. After all, Lisa had been examined by two MD's who had now looked in her mouth. Neither doctor suspected it was tongue cancer.

Visual Examination at a Dentists' Office and Early Detection of Oral and Tongue Cancer

No one knows for sure whether even a visual examination in the dentist's office saves lives, though most oral cancer experts believe that it does. That theory is based on the proven benefits of early detection of other cancers and the better survival rates in cases that are detected early - about 80 percent five years after diagnosis. Now with her cancer experience behind her, Lisa realizes how seldom people really take the time to look in their mouths. But many people schedule a cleaning with their dentist every six months. So, it seems logical that a dentist should do regular screenings for irregular growths in their patients' mouths. The American Cancer Society and the American Dental Association recommend a regular visual exam. But even though it is generally covered by insurance, not all dentists perform it. Some oncologists recommend patients request the screening process when visiting the dentist, even if the visit is for the most minor procedure, such as a regular cleaning.

Screening for Oral HPV

A screening tool for HPV in the mouth called OraRisk HPV is a non-invasive, simple-to-perform test to identify the types of oral HPV present as well as the associated risk profile for each type that might be detected. Its growth in popularity is becoming more recognized in the medical community and is most likely due to the increase of oral and tongue cancers due to HPV.